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“No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

The year 2020 was not an easy year by any standard. But we made it through. By the grace of God, we are here. And we are not just surviving but we are thriving. As I went back down memory lane to 2020 (which was not that hard since it feels like yesterday) and reflected on what we have been through and how we managed to get through, I was reminded of this verse. In this verse Paul says that in difficult times, what saves and helps us to get to the other side of our troubles is not really our faithfulness but the faithfulness of God. In this chapter Paul was talking about the temptations the Israelites faced and how they overcame the challenges. This is a lesson to Corinthian Christians and to us today from the history of the Israelites. And he says that much of the achievement was not really because of them. But it is because of God.

Paul says to them God, not Israelites, is the source of their strength to get through times of trials and temptations. Paul reminds them that they cannot rely on their strength since they now know what happens every time they go their own way. But he says, in the midst of any situation they can rely on God because God is faithful to the promises He made to them. God is reliable for the covenant He entered with them. God is faithful and dependable.  I do not think Paul is downplaying the importance of being faithful to God. I think he is making a point that our faithfulness is not reliable most of the time.

What does this mean for us today? Much of 2020 did not feel like we lived a victorious life. Often in our suffering, we cried out in pain and asked our agonizing questions -- about job loss, about death of innocent people, about financial crises, chronic illness, and loss of friends-- whatever caused suffering and pain in our lives. These were realities and facts that we had to endure the last year and a good portion of this year. But even as we cried out of the depths, we lived and waited in hope. And as we did that we did not really rely on our faithfulness. But we relied in the faithfulness of God. Our faithfulness at times cannot even last a day. But God’s faithfulness and commitment to us is eternal. Through this journey we learned that God does not act exactly when, where, or how we think God should act. But God does act in God’s good time, and suffering will not have the final word. That is what Paul says in this verse. God is Faithful. He is indeed Faithful.

So, as we journey to a new Chapter at CELC with your vote to become your called Pastor, I am hopeful and excited about the work ahead of us. I am hopeful not because I rely on my faithfulness to God but His faithfulness to us. I am hopeful because we are loved by God whether we are faithful or not. So, when this journey gets tough, when we feel like we are spinning our wheels in the days and years ahead, when our efforts seem to go without results, when we try and try and seem to be getting nowhere, when we feel like we cannot endure anymore, when that happens, just remember that we are called to be faithful, not to be successful. But more importantly, remember that God is faithful, God can send a breath of new life and new beginning. God has the power and willingness to turn our fear to confidence, our incapability to ability, and our sadness to joy. Remain hopeful and know that God has got our back. God Bless you and see you at Church!

Pastor Kibreab